I am writing this at home…so I don’t know what people know about what happened last week because I have not been on the internet for several days.

I can’t believe it’s been one week since we have lost an amazing person and heaven gained an angel. Kate was a 2nd year TEFL volunteer. She worked all four weeks of our stage/training. She helped me out a lot with teaching and planning lessons, helped me with my French (which was horrific) and she helped me through a difficult and sad time when my best friend decided to go home. She was just such a wonderful person! And my words do not give her enough justice as to what kind of person she was.

I have been informed that the Beninese and American governments are working together in their investigation over Kate’s death. We haven’t been told a whole lot of details because they “don’t want to compromise the investigation.” Which is fine. I just hope that we eventually find out what happened…maybe not all the details. What we do know is that she was murdered last Wednesday. (jeeze, that was hard to type). They have 3 suspects in custody…but they are just suspects and they have not released their names. But they do have some sort of ties to Peace Corps. Which really creeps me out. And that’s really all I know.

This past Monday there was a memorial service which was beautiful. A bunch of people gave their testimonies on Kate and there were a couple of songs sung. And there was also a slideshow with a bunch of pictures of Kate and other PCVs from her past 18 months here accompanied by a soundtrack put together by her friends. There was not a single dry eye in the place by the time the ceremony was done.

And then we all waited around for our turns to write in her guest book thingy. And that took a while because everyone had so much to say about her.

I’ve been doing better than I thought, but who knows…I have become a little more weary of people and I am a little more scared at night. Last night was the first night I let Marley sleep in the house. Usually he sleeps out on the patio. But I slept better with him indoors last night. Oh, and the first day back to school, this past Wednesday was the hardest. I almost started crying when I told my students why I was absent from school for the past week. I felt that they should know the general idea of my absence. I think that they appreciate that I am always on time and that I don’t skip out on class just because I don’t feel like being there. But Wednesday and yesterday were indeed very difficult for me.

In other news, I bought a new mattress yesterday. It’s a lot better quality than the one I bought back in December. And I ended up buying my mattress (for a little more than I wanted to spend) but from my friend who owns the “africrap” store in town. And as we were chatting, she points to the corner, and on the floor is a little baby sleeping inside a mosquito tent net thingy…and she tells me that is “Michelle.” I am not certain, and a little too humble to ask whether or not the baby was named after me! Although I do remember Christine telling me she was going to name her next baby Michelle. But I had no idea she was pregnant! I just thought she was a bigger lady…like her mom. But she had the baby back in December. Little Michelle Jesus-est-la (Jesus is here/there(not sure which one)) is super cute.

And speaking of cute babies. On the taxi ride back to post on Tuesday, I was sitting in the back, back row of a “9 seater” car. Matt, Nathaniel and I were squished like sardines, but luckily Matt got out way before Nathaniel and I so we had a little more room. And because we are in the way back, back…the taxi driver usually doesn’t fill it back up once leaves it. So it was quite roomy. And there was a little baby in the car, who was the cutest thing I have seen in a while. And the mother passed him back to me. And the little tyke didn’t cry at all! And after a while of talking with the little guy and interacting with him he started babbling. It was soooooo cute.

And before I forget. There are about 100 volunteers in country right now. And just about everyone made it to the memorial service, maybe all but 5 or 6. So there was definitely not enough room at the bureau for us, and they have cut out our hotel room money, so we were told that there were American families (probably all Embassy workers) who opened up their doors to us volunteers. I stayed at Stephanie’s house with three other girls (one of whom is returning home as a result of this tragic incident). Stephanie was a volunteer in Ghana a while ago. She made us Mexi food. Tacos! With real taco shells!!! There was everything expect Spanish rice and sour cream!! It was sooooooooooooo good. And it was nice to be in a beautiful house with a big yard, air conditioning, a hot shower and access to breakfast food in the morning. I mixed 3 kinds of cereal together and used more milk than I really needed but it was good. And I had a cup of REAL coffee! And probably the best part was playing with the little girl. She was 3 years old and sooooooo excited that there were 4 volunteers to play with. We had a blast chatting with her and singing songs. We even taught her the hokey pokey. It was so much fun hanging out with a 3 year old American little girl. The kids here are cute and everything, but they don’t interact with adults in the same way. In fact they behave completely different and it’s hard to describe. But I will never forget little K-Kelly!

And we ate ice cream before dinner. Amazing.

Xoxo, and please keep Kate and her family in your thoughts and prayers!

Michelle